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97 venture Brake light problem


gyorba
11-25-2006, 01:26 PM
On my 97 venture the only brake light that is working is the middle one. I noticed that another van had the same problem while driving the other day and thought there might be a common problem that some one might have come accrost. If anyone has could you please let me know so i can fix this before i get a ticket. Thank you.:rofl:

maxwedge
11-25-2006, 03:56 PM
Welcome to AF, check the bulbs first, then check for 12v in the sockets and ground. Then check current in out out of the signal switch, this the most common cause. No quick fix ,the normal diagnostic procedure is in order here.

shogunl
11-25-2006, 04:53 PM
On my 97 venture the only brake light that is working is the middle one. I noticed that another van had the same problem while driving the other day and thought there might be a common problem that some one might have come accrost. If anyone has could you please let me know so i can fix this before i get a ticket. Thank you.:rofl:

Remove rear tail lights and then unsnap lens from the "Circuit Board"(That is where bulbs are mounted on to) remove the brake light bulbs and see if base where it contacts curcuit is melted. If so you are probably looking at new circuit boards they are very common problem. I got mine at wrecker for $100 CDN. Try to get 2002 or newer, Venture and Montanas use the same so it doesn't matter which one.

maxwedge
11-25-2006, 06:23 PM
97 uses these circuit boards?, I could be wrong, but I don't think so.

'97ventureowner
11-26-2006, 10:21 PM
Yes, the 1997 Venture uses the circuit board in question, as both of my '97s had them. They are also called "boards" as a slang term probably because they resemble a board that the bulbs attach to. I know there is another term for them that GM uses but can't think of it at the moment.

maxwedge
11-27-2006, 05:39 AM
Ok, my parts book just show a board with all the sockets, but my Trailblazer has them, with actual built in circuits.

gyorba
11-27-2006, 07:04 AM
OK thank you for the advice. I will check the circuit boards first and then go from there.

'97ventureowner
11-27-2006, 10:12 AM
Ok, my parts book just show a board with all the sockets, but my Trailblazer has them, with actual built in circuits.
It'd be nice if they were interchangeable with the Venture boards, then we'd have another possible source for used ones. If this were 30 years ago that might be a possibility:grinyes: .

cjstew4
11-27-2006, 12:54 PM
On my 97 venture the only brake light that is working is the middle one. I noticed that another van had the same problem while driving the other day and thought there might be a common problem that some one might have come accrost. If anyone has could you please let me know so i can fix this before i get a ticket. Thank you.:rofl:

You probably have the typical short in both or one of the supposed weatherproof plugs from the harness plug to the board at your rear tailight assemblies. Check out the black wire from the harness to the plug. On my '97 since this appeared burned/shorted on both plugs on both sides and the fuses were fine, I bypassed getting a new harness or board and labeled each wire from the harness, cut the plug off the harness, stripped and added a connector to each wire, cut around the mating board to its base exposing the 5 prongs. I cleaned themwith emory or sand paper (be careful with the very small prong/lead) and went ahead and slipped the connectors over each one and voila, taillights/break lights worked again. Gooped on clear silicone caulk, let dry overnight and you are done. My cost about $5. Or you can by replacement harnesses or boards, and weather proof with silicone once they work. Let us know which route you took.

gyorba
11-28-2006, 07:01 AM
ok i found a sight you might want to check out. The entire replacment assembly ( including lenses ) are $47.21 and free shipping. http://replacement.autopartswarehouse.com/parts/autopartswarehouse/wizard.jsp?year=1997&make=CV&model=VENT--001&category=All&part=Tail%20Light%20Assembly&dp=true That is the link. Hope this helps some others out there.

nautiquesonly
12-30-2006, 12:19 PM
ok i found a sight you might want to check out. The entire replacment assembly ( including lenses ) are $47.21 and free shipping. http://replacement.autopartswarehouse.com/parts/autopartswarehouse/wizard.jsp?year=1997&make=CV&model=VENT--001&category=All&part=Tail%20Light%20Assembly&dp=true That is the link. Hope this helps some others out there.

I have the same problem on 2002 venture. I click on your link and the page is blank. Can you tell me the part# from the website? Thanks.

gyorba
12-30-2006, 09:09 PM
#11-5131-01 is the part # At the Auto parts wharehouse. Also you might try looking on...car-part.com...they list all the wrecking yards in every area and if they have your part listed...as well as the price and all. Hope this helps you out.

nautiquesonly
12-31-2006, 10:38 AM
#11-5131-01 is the part # At the Auto parts wharehouse. Also you might try looking on...car-part.com...they list all the wrecking yards in every area and if they have your part listed...as well as the price and all. Hope this helps you out.

Thanks again. So when you purchase the tail light here the bulb holder comes with it as a pair? I dont seem to be able to locate just the bulb holder which is really only what I need. If this is the case and thats what they mean by assembly then I will order both rt and lft side for the $47 each. If you could let me know if this is what is included I would appreciate it. Thanks again.

gyorba
01-01-2007, 06:58 AM
I am possitive that is what they mean by assembly. However i went to the other sight and found them for $25 a peice.

nautiquesonly
01-01-2007, 09:17 AM
I am possitive that is what they mean by assembly. However i went to the other sight and found them for $25 a peice.

Yeah I find the assembly for as little as $22. However, I dont seem to find a site with them giving good detail on what is included. When yours came from Car-part for $25 did it include the tail light bulb holder and the lens? Thanks.

'97ventureowner
01-01-2007, 01:05 PM
Do these sites have contact information such as an "800" number that you might call and ask them questions? When I have purchased items online in the past, and had a question pertaining to what I was buying, I would call their customer service number found on their site to get more info.

gyorba
01-03-2007, 08:55 PM
When i got mine from the othe sight i told you about it came from a wrecking yard and i got some with the boards. You will just have to be specific when you call about what you need.

gyorba
01-03-2007, 08:58 PM
sorry i did not see that last post b4 i answered the question. Yes the car-part.com sight has all the information on all the wrecking yards in their database. and that information is included in the page that lists the parts.

'97ventureowner
01-03-2007, 09:35 PM
I wanted to clarify my post above concerning nautiquesonly's post. If you see something on a website, whether it's a GM dealer, or used car parts store and there ever is a doubt as to what is included or if it is the correct part you need, just look on their site for contact info, usually an "800" # or an email address. Legitimate sites will have this information posted prominently on their site.
On a side note. The internet is a Godsend to anyone who works on their own vehicles. We now have access to information and parts that were once hard to get. I remember some of the projects I did some 20 years ago and needed advice or reference info and didn't know who to contact or where to turn. Some parts were hard to locate and you had to rely on the "junkyard's" Locator service to scout for the part somewheres in this country. You were literally at their mercy. Now, the average person has access to this info and can search at their convenience from the comfort of their home to locate parts they need to fix their vehicles from literally hundreds of sources. They also can network on sites such as this to ask questions and get answers from others who have done that type of work and can give some insight. I sure wish I had the internet way back when I used to swap engines and modify vehicles to see what worked and what didn't. It sure would've made my life easier!!

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